Mechanism for folding down dry-cell linings



June 5, 1928,

C. C. CAIN, JR

MECHANISM FOR FOLDING DOWN DRY CELL LININGS File d March 9, 1925 INVENTOR a. ,e. a... y.

fiATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. CAIN, JR., OF WESTWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR- PORATION OF NEW YORK.

MECHANISM FOR FOLDING DOWN DRY-CELL LININGS.

Application filed March 9, 1925. Serial No. 14,266.

This invention relates to improvements in dry cell manufacture. and more particularly to mechanism for the folding down of lin ings in dry cells.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means for automatically folding down the protruding ends of paper lining on top of the depolarizing mass and thus avoid the relatively expensive manual op eration heretofore necessary in the assembly of dry cells.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section of a tool embodying the features of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows the tool in operated position; and Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the tool.

The tool consists of a casting or insert 1 carried on a shaft 2 and slidably mounted within a sleeve 3. A shoulder 4 formed near the lower end of the casting 1 and a corresponding shoulder 5 formed in the sleeve 3 serve to limit their relative vertical displacement. The castingis hollowed out as indicated at 6, the lower-end of the cavity being bevelled as shown at 7. Similarly, the lower end of the sleeve 3 is bevelled as shown at 8.

In operation, a dry cell 9 is placed on a table 10 below the tool and then the tool is brought down on top of the dry cell. The mouth of the opening in sleeve 3, i. e., the base of the frustum of a cone 8, is wide enough to clear the zinc container electrode 11 of the dry cell. The bevelled section 8 thus serves to center the zinc cam 11 below the tool. The downward movement of the tool continues until the sleeve 3 rests on top of the zinc can near the upper end of the bevelled part 8 (see Fig. 2), the apex of this conical section being of a smaller diameter than that of the container electrode. By continuing the downward movement of the spindle 2, the insert 1 will now be lowered with respect to the sleeve 3, the latter remaining stationary on top of the zinc can. The sharp lower edge 12 of the insert 1 penetrates betweenthe zinc container 11 and the paper lining 13 which separates the depolarizing mass 14 from the zinc container electrode and the end of which projects above the zinc can. The bevel 7 on the insert 1 will force the free end of the paper 12 inward towards the carbon electrode 15 which is centrally located within the zinc container 11, the upper end of the carbon electrode projecting within the cavity (Sprovidcd in the insert. The downward movement of the insert 1 is continued until its wedge-shaped lower edge is forced between the paper lining 13 and the zinc can ll-at a point slightly below the top of the depolarizing mass 14. At this time the folded down portion of the paper lies against arms 16, 17 and 18, preferably formed of heavy wire and anchored in the wedge-shaped lower end of the insert 1. The spindle 2 is now rotated, forcing the wedge 12 slightly lower in the zinc can and smoothing out the top of paper 13 by means of the arms 16, 17 and 18. After this operation the spindle is moved upwards, removing the insert 1 from the zinc container and the latter carries the sleeve 3 back into the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the tool herein illustrated forms part of suitable mechanism, whereby the vertical displacement and rotation of the tool may be readily accomplished with minimum attention on the part of the operator.

What I claim is:

1. A tool composed of two members comprising a member for folding down the free top of the paper lining of a dry cell, and means for centering a dry cell below said tool during its operation.

2. In a mechanism for foldin down the paper lining of dry cells, a too composed of two members, means for moving said members relative to the dry cell and to each other, means associated with one member for centrally holding the dry cell below the tool, and means associated with the other member for folding down the free top of the paper lining.

3. In a mechanism for folding down the paper lining of dry cells, a tool composed of two members, means for vertically moving said members relative to the dry cell and to each other and for rotating one of said members, means for centering the dry cell below said one member upon the vertical displacement of the other member, and means associated with said one of said members for folding down the free top of the paper lining in response to the vertical and rotary movements of the member.

4. In a mechanism for folding down the paper lining of dry cells, a tool composed of an insert surrounded by a sleeve, means for vertically moving said insert and sleeve and for rotating said insert, a cross section 7 being of substantially the same diameter as the inside of the container electrode.

5. In a mechanism for folding down the paper lining ofdry cells, a tool composed of an insert surrounded by a sleeve, means for vertically movin said insert and sleeve and for rotating said insert, a cross section of the lower edge of said sleeve having the form of the frustum of a cone the base of which is wider and the apex narrower than the outside diameter of the dry cell container electrode, a cross section of the lower part of the insert being also in the form of the frustum of a cone the base of which is of substantially the same diameter as the insideof the container electrode.

6. In a mechanism for folding down the paper lining of dry cells, a toolcomposed of an insert surrounded by a sleeve, means for vertically moving said insert and sleeve and for rotatin said insert, interlocking shoulders in sai sleeve and insert for limiting the relative upward movement of the latter. a bevelled lower edge forsaid sleeve the base of which is of a wider and the apex of a narrower diameter than the outside diameter of the dry cell container electrode, a sharp lower edge for said insert forming the base of a substantially cone-shaped hollowed out portion thereof, the diameter of said lower edge being substantially the same as the inside diameter of the container electrode, and arms fastened to the insert above its lower edge and projecting within the hollowed out portion.

7. A tool composed of two members for folding down the free top of the pa er lining of a dry cell comprising means or vertically moving and rotating one of; said members with respect to the dr cell and means for centrally holding the ry cell be-. low said tool during operation.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 2d day of March, 1925. c

CHARLES C. CAIN, JR. 

